Electric switch



June 4, 1929. -1 L RElNARTz 1,715,948

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed June 27, 1928 ATTORN EY( Patented June 4, 1929.'

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. REDSI'ARTZ, OF SOUTH MANCHESTER, CCNNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO CHENEY BROTHERS, OF SOUTH MANCHESTER,

NECTICUT.

CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application led June 27,

elements and connection blocks shall be easily accessible. It further has for its object to provide a new and improved lever for oscillating said elements through a predetermined arc. A further object of my invention is to provide a multiple pole switch having the features above referred to.

The following is a description of an embodiment of my invention, reference being had to `the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Fig. 1 isa partial `front elevation of a switch embodying my invention;

AFig. 2 is a section of the same on the line 2 2; i

Fig. 3 is a front elevation with parts broken away;

Figs. 4 and 5 show the mercury contact elements in circuit closing and circuit opening positions;

Fig. 6 is a detail; and

Fig. 7 is a diagram of circuits.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 2 is a tubular casing having lugs 4 for securing it to a wall. 6 and 8 are, respectively, a cover and bottom closure secured together by screw-threaded rods 10 so as to close the casing. 12 is a shaft extending through an insulating block 14 and bearing a crank arm 16 which is provided with a downwardly projecting lug 18 in a plane between two adjustable stops 20 carried by lugs 22 integral with the casing.

r The adjustable stops 20 limitthe throw on the arm 16. To the upper end of the arm 16 an extension 24 is pivotally connected at 26. This extension has a downwardly projecting arm 28 to which is pivotally connected a rod 3() which passes through a lug 32 integral with the arm 16. Upon this rod below the lug 32 is a compression spring 34 secured by adjustable nuts 36. Theparts 16 to 36 constitute a yielding lever such that r while the portion 16 has a limited movement,

the portion 24 canV be, without damage, moved after the portion 16 reaches the limit of its throw. f

The block 14 is providedY with six o enings 38. On the upper face of the bloc 14 192 Serial N0. 288,557.

are secured three spring clips 40 in which are yieldingly held mercury contact elements 42, the same comprising a glass container 44 having hollow downward projections 46 in the bottom of which terminals 48 are sealed. This container is partially filled with mercury 50 which surrounds and contacts with the upper portions of the terminals 48 and is substantially like the clements described in U. S. Patent No. 1,607,- 582, granted to lVarren R. lValker, assignor, on November 16, 1926. To the lower ends of the terminals 48 are secured binding posts 52 to which are secured insulated conductors 54, the other ends of said conductors being secured by binding posts on a connection block 56. 'lhis connection block has on one side three binding posts 58 and `on the other side three binding posts 60, the adjacent binding posts being separated by barriers 62. The lower end of the casing is provided with slotted inwardly extending projections 64 which enter recesses in the ends of the connection block 56, the connection block 56 being removably secured thereto by the bolt 66. 68 and 70 are inlets for electrical conductors, each conductor, in this instance, having three wires, those of one inlet being connected with the binding posts 58 and those of the other inlet being connected to the binding posts 60. The binding posts 52 at one end of the mercury elements are connected to the binding posts 58 by conductors, the other binding posts 53 heilig similarly connected to the binding posts 60.

In operation the flexible lever 16, 24 is moved in one direction or the other by power applied to the member 24. When the elements 42 are horizontal the circuits are closed. When the member 24 is moved to the right (Fig. 8) the mercury elements are ti ped to the position shown in Fig. 5 in which case the circuits are broken. The circuits are thus controlled without producing any sparking and the disadvantages due to an oil switch are eliminated. The yielding operating lever permits an overthrow of the member 24 without damage. The mercury elements are easily accessible for inspection upon removal of the cover 6 and the same is true of the contact block 56 when the bottom closure 8 is removed. By removing the cover 6 and the bottom closure 8 the mercury elements can be disconnected and replaced when necessary.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, my invention permits various modifications without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a switch, a hollow body portion having a removable top and removable bottom, an insulating block pivotally mounted in said body portion, a clip carried by said insulating block, a mercury switch element carried by said clip and a connector block secured in the lower end of said body portion, said mercury element and connector block being accessible upon the removal of said cover and bottom closure, and a lever for oscillating said block.

2. In a switch, a hollow body portion having a removable top and removable bottom, an insulating block pivotally mounted in said body portion, a clip carried by said insulating block, a mercury switch element carried by said clip and a connector block secured in the lower end of said body portion, said mercury element and connector block being accessible upon the removal of said cover and bottom closure, and a lever for oscillating said block, said lever having a'portion rigidly connected to said block and an extension yieldingly secured thereto, and stops carried by said body portion for limiting the movement of Said rigidly connected portion.

3. In a switch, a hollow body portion having a removable top and removable bottom, an insulating block pivotally mounted in said body portion, a clip carried by said insulating block, a mercury switch element carried by said insulating block, a mercury switch element carried by said clip and a connector block secured in the lower end of said body ortion, said mercury element and connector block being accessible upon the removal of said cover and bottom closure, and a lever for oscillating said block, said lever having a portion rigidly connected to said block, an extension pivotally connected to said portion and having an arm extending to a oint between said pivotal connection and t e axis of said block, and a spring connection between said arm and 'said connected portion.

4. In a switch, a hollow body portion lhaving a removable top and removable bottom, an insulating block pivotall mounted in said body portion, a clip carried by said insulating block, a mercury switch element carried by said clip and a connector block secured in the lower end of said body portion, said mercury elements and connector block being accessible upon the removal of said cover and bottom closure, and a lever for oscillating said block, said connector block being removably secured to the side walls of said body portion.

5. In a switch, a hollow body portion having a removable top and'removable bottom, an insulating block pivotally mounted in said body portion, a clip carried by said insulating block, a mercury switch element carried by said clip and a connector block removably secured in the lower end of said body portion, said mercury element and connector block being accessible upon the removal of said `cover and bottom closure, and a lever' for oscillating said block, said body portion having an inlet for conductors leading to said connector block.

6. In a switch, a hollow body portion having a removable top and removable bottom, an insulating block pivotally mounted in said body portion, a plurality of clips carried by said insulating block, a mercury switch element carried by each of said clips` and a connector block removably secured in the lower end of said body portion, said mercury elements and connecting block being accessible upon the removal of said cover and bottom closure, and a lever for oscillating said block, said insulating block having a palr of openings for each switch element into which the terminals of said switch elements extend and said conductor block having a correspondinv number of rigidly binding posts connected to the respective terminals of said switch elements, said body portion having a plurality of inlets for conductors leading to said bindin posts.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 19th day o'f June, 1928.

JOHN L. REINARTZ. 

